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Welcome to the October edition of Drive Smart.

My name is Sarah Hope, and I’m stepping into the role of ADTA General Manager as Charles winds down his time with the Association. I had the pleasure of meeting some of you at the Big Day Out and Annual Conference a few weeks ago.

Charles, the ADTA Board and staff have built an exceptional organisation, with a strong membership, a respected Safer Drivers Course and a growing professional development program. I’m thrilled to be joining on such a solid foundation and look forward to working alongside Charles and the team throughout the handover and beyond.

My career has spanned six membership associations, including serving as General Manager of two. Through working closely with members, Boards and committees, I’ve learned that the best associations listen first.

On a personal note, I have a front-row seat to why your work matters. My daughter, my partner’s daughter, three nieces and a nephew are all on their Ls — that’s six learners in my life! I know how much a great instructor means to them and to our families.

So, listening is where I’ll start. I’d love to hear what’s working, what could be improved and how we can continue to add value to your membership and support the industry. Please reach out by phone or email when you have a moment to chat.

I look forward to getting to know you.

Sarah Hope
General Manager

0475 752 216

[email protected]

Welcome to the Board

We’re delighted to welcome Selena Conway to the ADTA Board of Directors.

Selena is a retired NSW Police Officer with 20 years of experience and has spent more than 12 years in the driver training industry.  She's the owner and driving instructor of L2Drive Academy, and she's also delivered the NSW Safer Drivers Course for the past 10 years as both a Facilitator and Coach.

Our Directors generously volunteer their time, industry knowledge and experience to support the association and our members. From providing strategic direction and overseeing governance to advocating for driver trainers, their work helps ensure the ADTA remains a strong voice for our industry.

We’re grateful to all of our Directors for their commitment and the countless hours they contribute behind the scenes.

Want to get to know our Board? Meet our current Directors HERE.

Conference Highlights

What a fantastic two days!

Earlier this month, we brought members, industry partners and supporters together for our Big Day Out and ADTA Annual Conference.

Both events were a wonderful opportunity to connect, share ideas and learn from others across the driver training industry. It was great to see so many familiar faces and welcome new ones, too.

There's too many highlights (and photos) to add into this newsletter so head over to our web pages below dedicated to our two amazing events.

See our Big Day Out highlights here

See our Annual Conference highlights here

Thank you to everyone who joined us and contributed to the conversations. Your passion for driver training and road safety is what makes our community so special.

A big thank you also to our speakers, the ADTA Board and our sponsors for helping make these events possible. We’re grateful for your continued support of our association and the work of driver trainers across Australia.

Thank you again for being part of our 2026 events.

2027 Conference Announcement

📣 Tickets are already on sale!

Join us for the ADTA Annual Conference 2027

📅 Friday, 5 November 2027
📍 QT Gold Coast

We’re giving you plenty of notice to plan ahead. Pop the date in your calendar, or why not make a weekend of it on the beautiful Gold Coast?

Discounted accommodation options will be available soon. We'll update you once the link is live.

Secure your conference tickets today and take advantage of our super early bird pricing. Book Here

🚛 Save the date: Heavy Vehicle Event 2027
📅Thursday 4 November 2027

Venue details and tickets will be announced soon for our HV Event. Stay tuned.

NSW Safer Drivers Course

Our ADTA Safer Drivers Course was a massive success over the recent school holidays, helping learners build the skills, confidence and awareness they need to stay safe on our roads.

Did you know?

Under the new contract commencing 1 November 2026, learners will need to complete at least 50 actual driving hours, including a minimum of 10 night hours, before attending the course. The 10 night hours form part of the 50-hour total.

Who are you recommending your students complete their SDC with?

With an experienced team and locations across NSW, ADTA is ready to support your learners as they prepare for independent driving.

Current ADTA locations

Batemans Bay, Baulkham Hills, Burwood, Campbelltown, Glenfield, Kogarah, Narellan, Narrabeen, Newcastle, North Sydney, Penrith, Port Macquarie, Seaforth, Warners Bay and Ulladulla.

Are you a qualified Facilitator or Coach?

If you are interested in bringing the Safer Drivers Course to your community, please reach out to our SDC Coordinator Nicole on 0412 216 116 or [email protected].

Help your learners book when they’re ready

ADTA has logbook stickers available for NSW driving instructors! These give learners an easy way to find our booking details once they have completed the required hours. Contact our team and we’ll post some out to you.

New look, same great team

Our ADTA facilitators and coaches now have a uniform, making them easy to identify and helping learners feel comfortable and supported from the moment they arrive.

A great photo above of Guru and the team at Glenfield!

Queensland Driver Trainer Accreditation Submission

ADTA has made a submission to TMR’s review of the Queensland regulation that governs driver trainer accreditation (the AOP Regulation). We support strong accreditation that protects learners. We also called for a simpler, fairer system: flexible one- to five-year terms with a much lower effective annual fee, online applications and renewals, clearer suitability guidance with limits on reapplying after serious wrongdoing, and stronger enforcement against unsafe and unaccredited instruction.
 

On learner driver mentoring, ADTA supports funding for established volunteer programs. We oppose paying or reimbursing unaccredited mentors or supervisors. We’ve asked TMR for a further meeting to help shape the changes.

Queensland Protection Commission Establishment Update

The Queensland Protection Commission Bill 2026 passed Parliament on 15 October 2026 and received Royal Assent on 22 October 2026, becoming the Queensland Protection Commission Act 2026. The Queensland Protection Commission will commence on 1 February 2027.

The new Protection Commission will bring the following functions together under one entity:

• The Queensland Family and Child Commission’s existing oversight, advocacy and child death review functions
• Child Safe Standards
• Reportable Conduct Scheme
• Working with Children Check Scheme
• Disability Worker Screening Scheme
• Child Safeguarding Intelligence Hub
• Intelligence Network

Together, these functions will strengthen Queensland’s ability to connect information, identify patterns and emerging risks earlier, and prevent harm.

There is currently no change to existing:

• services
• legal or regulatory obligations
• reporting and notification requirements
• systems and online portals
• contact and referral pathways

Reports, notifications and other statutory information should continue to be submitted through the existing channels until advised otherwise.

QFCC's contact details also remain the same:

Website: www.qfcc.qld.gov.au

Email: [email protected]

Phone: 07 3900 6000

Questions about the establishment of the Queensland Protection Commission can also be directed through these channels.

Implementation work will continue ahead of commencement on 1 February 2027. Stakeholders directly affected by a confirmed change will receive targeted information and practical guidance before the change takes effect.

Further updates will be provided as implementation arrangements are confirmed.

ADAS and Driver Testing

Developed by Austroads as a road safety initiative, ADAS Assist helps consumers better understand the safety and convenience technologies available in today's vehicles. 

The platform provides accessible, plain-language information and short videos explaining how common ADAS functions work, their benefits, limitations, and how drivers can use them effectively to improve safety outcomes. It also provides a centralised, searchable resource explaining more than 30 common vehicle safety and driver assistance technologies.

A key objective is to improve road safety by increasing community awareness and encouraging the use of technologies that can help prevent or mitigate crashes, such as lane keeping assistance, blind spot warning, and automatic emergency braking.

The initiative also supports informed vehicle purchasing, leasing and rental decisions by encouraging consumers to consider safety technologies and seek further information about ADAS features when selecting vehicles.

Many new vehicles have safety systems fitted to help drivers. Safety systems such as autonomous emergency braking (AEB) and traction control must stay on for a driving test. During the driving test, the applicant must also show they can drive safely without relying on the vehicle safety features.

Road Worker Day of Remembrance

Monday 9 November 2026

In collaboration with National Road Safety Week comes Road Worker Day of Remembrance.

On 9 November, we remember those who never made it home and the loved ones who miss them.

They show up every day. In all conditions. On busy roads, in the dark and just metres from moving traffic—all to keep us safe.

Every time a vehicle speeds past too close, their lives are on the line.

Behind every hi-vis vest is a person with a life beyond the work zone. Family. Friends. Someone waiting for them to come home.

Be patient. Slow down. Give them space to work safely.

Because everyone deserves to make it home safely.

To access downloadable resources for Road Worker Day of Remembrance please click here. 

Brisbane Truck Show 2027

Mark your calendar for the Brisbane Truck Show! The 2025 event featured more than 36,000 square metres of exhibitions, showcasing the latest trucks, trailers, parts, accessories and related technologies across all three levels of the venue.

📅 20–23 May 2027
📍 Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre

Purchase your Brisbane Truck Show tickets here.

And that just about wraps it up for our October Edition!

Please do not hesitate to reach out for a friendly chat, if you have any questions or require any assistance in helping you on your driver trainer's journey. 

Have a great rest of the week and speak soon ☀️

This email was intended for Hayley Ferreira: [email protected] • Unsubscribe